HP buys big into Windows 8 touch devices

HP leaves its TouchPad past behind by embracing its Windows 8 future.

HP is buying big into the Windows 8 touch notebook concept, as demonstrated by three models announced Thursday. One tablet-hybrid model and two notebooks will debut in time for the holiday season, combining the traditional keyboard and touchpad laptop interactions with the Metro-optimized Windows 8 touchscreen.

The HP Envy X2 is the most intriguing of the models, with an 11.6-inch tablet that detaches from a notebook-like keyboard base. The Envy X2 has an 8-megapixel rear camera, 720p front-facing camera, and a 64GB solid-state drive contained in the tablet half of the body. The IPS tablet screen weighs 1.5 pounds, and the tablet and keyboard base weigh a total of 3.1 pounds. The tablet is also NFC-enabled, which allows users to "share content, including photos, contacts and URLs with a simple tap."

The HP ENVY X2, an 11-inch tablet hybrid model.

The HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook, at 17.9 millimeters thick and weighing 4.77 pounds is a more conventional notebook, that follows in the steps of the Envy Spectre we tested at CES 2012, though with a fully Metro-capable touch screen. Ports on the model include Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, and HDMI. The base model is priced at $1,399, though it includes only a 500GB hard drive with 32GB of flash cache—options with a 128GB or 256GB solid-state drive cost extra.

The 15-inch Envy Spectre XT, optimized for the touch components of Windows 8.

A more graphics-intensive Ultrabook, the HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4, has an option to include a discrete AMD graphics card with up to 2GB of memory. The model has a 14-inch touch screen, measures 23 millimeters thick, and weighs 4.77 pounds, like the 15-inch Ultrabook above, though it clocks 8 hours of battery life. Like the 15-inch TouchSmart Ultrabook, the 14-inch version will have the option to use either an HDD with flash cache (500GB storage) or an SSD (128GB).

Will never buy another HP product after my current laptop doubles as a hot griddle.

I absolutely.. whole heartedly agree.

HP products might have given a polished look to their exterior to compete with the MBP & MBA of the worlds, but it has done nothing to take care of its biggest problem : the heat issue.

I have used three laptops so far from HP ( two personal, one from work place ) ..all different models bought at different times and all have had different issues -But one thing was consistent amongst all - they get hot like a furnace. And this is consistent across price levels.. a super expensive one will not guarantee a better experience with its hardware.

I am Mac convert now and so far extremely happy with its hardware and OS performance ( including its heat management ).

I can't figure out why anyone would want something in a laptop format that's also a touchscreen. I've used an iPad with a wireless keyboard extensively and that's what this format mimics. A touchscreen is a great device when you're holding it in the your hands and interacting directly with it. But it becomes a UI mess when you have to switch between keyboard and touchscreen. If you want a keyboard and a more traditional setup, the vertical touchscreen is a lousy choice AND it just adds to cost. If you want to use it as a real touchscreen by itself, the keyboard is problematic. Just because you CAN do something doesn't make it more useful. I know this direction is being dictated by Microsoft's decision to try to have one OS that's all things to all people, but I think it's a serious mistake. These hybrid devices are going to sound great to some people in stores (especially geeks, I suspect), but I think they'll be terrible in real, everyday use.

Will never buy another HP product after my current laptop doubles as a hot griddle.

I absolutely.. whole heartedly agree.

HP products might have given a polished look to their exterior to compete with the MBP & MBA of the worlds, but it has done nothing to take care of its biggest problem : the heat issue.

I have used three laptops so far from HP ( two personal, one from work place ) ..all different models bought at different times and all have had different issues -But one thing was consistent amongst all - they get hot like a furnace. And this is consistent across price levels.. a super expensive one will not guarantee a better experience with its hardware.

I am Mac convert now and so far extremely happy with its hardware and OS performance ( including its heat management ).

I have no problems with my elitebook 6930p. However, I don't think my next computer will be one of these as they don't seem to have the "WOW" factor to make me open up my wallet.

Next computer will be the surface x86, and then a Haswell laptop sometime late next year.

My wife's HP laptop had such an overheating problem that the GPU separated from the motherboard and the display permanently blacked out. Of course, the warranty had JUST expired, so I took the damn thing apart and fixed it only to have the same thing happen again two weeks later. I'd never touch one of their machines again no matter how good they look.

Seems like there may have been a bit of a missed opportunity to expand on the subtitle as the primary focus of the article. I have to assume these are being handled by HP's new mobility division, but does that effectively render the "Gram" thing dead in the water? Or is this just their first batch of offerings or is this simply an evolution of HP's current offerings?

I realize that HP isn't going to make such a statement, but inquiring minds would like to know.

I can't figure out why anyone would want something in a laptop format that's also a touchscreen. I've used an iPad with a wireless keyboard extensively and that's what this format mimics. A touchscreen is a great device when you're holding it in the your hands and interacting directly with it. But it becomes a UI mess when you have to switch between keyboard and touchscreen. If you want a keyboard and a more traditional setup, the vertical touchscreen is a lousy choice AND it just adds to cost. If you want to use it as a real touchscreen by itself, the keyboard is problematic. Just because you CAN do something doesn't make it more useful. I know this direction is being dictated by Microsoft's decision to try to have one OS that's all things to all people, but I think it's a serious mistake. These hybrid devices are going to sound great to some people in stores (especially geeks, I suspect), but I think they'll be terrible in real, everyday use.

I have to agree. When using a laptop, it's simply cumbersome to reach out and touch the screen. Ita easier to use a trackpad or mouse at desk level. Same for desktops actually. My friend got an all-in-one with a touchscreen. It hardly ever gets used.

I can't figure out why anyone would want something in a laptop format that's also a touchscreen. I've used an iPad with a wireless keyboard extensively and that's what this format mimics. A touchscreen is a great device when you're holding it in the your hands and interacting directly with it. But it becomes a UI mess when you have to switch between keyboard and touchscreen. If you want a keyboard and a more traditional setup, the vertical touchscreen is a lousy choice AND it just adds to cost. If you want to use it as a real touchscreen by itself, the keyboard is problematic. Just because you CAN do something doesn't make it more useful. I know this direction is being dictated by Microsoft's decision to try to have one OS that's all things to all people, but I think it's a serious mistake. These hybrid devices are going to sound great to some people in stores (especially geeks, I suspect), but I think they'll be terrible in real, everyday use.

Agreed. The touch-screen makes sense for devices with removable keyboards, but I think they should have gone with larger trackpads for their traditional laptops instead of pushing up costs. Wonder if another manufacturer will realize this and capitalize on it.

Where is the article does it say "RT" that you even ask? They are all Win8, therefore x86.HP has currently no interest in ARM-based WinRT tablets. Windows is a requirement for Enterprise customers but for casual customers HP sees the future in other platforms.

Just because you CAN do something doesn't make it more useful. I know this direction is being dictated by Microsoft's decision to try to have one OS that's all things to all people, but I think it's a serious mistake.

I don't believe Microsoft is dictating. What they've done is make it possible by unifying the OS. In response, I would ask you read the first sentence of the quote above.

Where is the article does it say "RT" that you even ask? They are all Win8, therefore x86.HP has currently no interest in ARM-based WinRT tablets. Windows is a requirement for Enterprise customers but for casual customers HP sees the future in other platforms.

I've used a Panasonic Toughbook that had a touchscreen (Windows XP). It works ok. You can use the keyboard the same as normal. You can use the trackpad the same as normal. You can use the touchscreen if you want to. Just because it isn't a benefit in every use case, doesn't mean that some people won't want to use it some of the time. You don't have to buy it if you don't want it.

I can't figure out why anyone would want something in a laptop format that's also a touchscreen. I've used an iPad with a wireless keyboard extensively and that's what this format mimics. A touchscreen is a great device when you're holding it in the your hands and interacting directly with it. But it becomes a UI mess when you have to switch between keyboard and touchscreen. If you want a keyboard and a more traditional setup, the vertical touchscreen is a lousy choice AND it just adds to cost. If you want to use it as a real touchscreen by itself, the keyboard is problematic. Just because you CAN do something doesn't make it more useful. I know this direction is being dictated by Microsoft's decision to try to have one OS that's all things to all people, but I think it's a serious mistake. These hybrid devices are going to sound great to some people in stores (especially geeks, I suspect), but I think they'll be terrible in real, everyday use.

I have to agree. When using a laptop, it's simply cumbersome to reach out and touch the screen. Ita easier to use a trackpad or mouse at desk level. Same for desktops actually. My friend got an all-in-one with a touchscreen. It hardly ever gets used.

In fact this is what Steve Jobs said at a keynote some years ago. How often does Apple share market intelligence like that? Are these people (MS, HP) this clueless?

My wife's HP laptop had such an overheating problem that the GPU separated from the motherboard and the display permanently blacked out. Of course, the warranty had JUST expired, so I took the damn thing apart and fixed it only to have the same thing happen again two weeks later. I'd never touch one of their machines again no matter how good they look.

I had the same thing happen to my HP laptop. The only difference is that mine went straight to the trash. The thing would get so hot that it hurt to type on for any extended length of time. I sent it in for repairs since it was still under warranty (3 times), but all I got back was "working as intended".

Agreed. The touch-screen makes sense for devices with removable keyboards, but I think they should have gone with larger trackpads for their traditional laptops instead of pushing up costs. Wonder if another manufacturer will realize this and capitalize on it.

I'd actually buy a laptop that didn't have a trackpad at all. I hate the things (the nipples are worse, though). I'd be content to be limited to using a mouse with it, just to bring the keyboard closer to the front and not have the issue of palm presses screwing with the cursor location while typing.

Great will be the day when someone invents a better mechanism for mouse input on a laptop. A giant touch area between user and keyboard sucks.

I have to agree. When using a laptop, it's simply cumbersome to reach out and touch the screen. Ita easier to use a trackpad or mouse at desk level. Same for desktops actually. My friend got an all-in-one with a touchscreen. It hardly ever gets used.

I'm guessing that all-in-one isn't running an OS that is optimized for touch, and has a bunch of compelling apps that are also optimized for touch.

Not saying that will change things, but that's a pretty big difference in the equation that certainly could make it useful in some scenarios.

Will never buy another HP product after my current laptop doubles as a hot griddle.

I absolutely.. whole heartedly agree.

HP products might have given a polished look to their exterior to compete with the MBP & MBA of the worlds, but it has done nothing to take care of its biggest problem : the heat issue.

I have used three laptops so far from HP ( two personal, one from work place ) ..all different models bought at different times and all have had different issues -But one thing was consistent amongst all - they get hot like a furnace. And this is consistent across price levels.. a super expensive one will not guarantee a better experience with its hardware.

I am Mac convert now and so far extremely happy with its hardware and OS performance ( including its heat management ).

Actually my old late 2008 MacBook Pro had it's 2,53 GHz Core 2 Duo throttle due to heat regularly. Apple also "doesn't get it right" when it comes to heating bar theirs new concept of the retina MacBook Pro. My new 2012 MacBook Air, get's incredibly hot, even to the point where it really hurts, while playing games. I hope, that if it does fail of heat, it will be within a year...

I think Apple is just taking a little bit more care with their soldering or whatever, hence hear related issues are not hat pronounced. That still doesn't mean their cooling concept is any better then HPs

I have to agree. When using a laptop, it's simply cumbersome to reach out and touch the screen. Ita easier to use a trackpad or mouse at desk level. Same for desktops actually. My friend got an all-in-one with a touchscreen. It hardly ever gets used.

I'm guessing that all-in-one isn't running an OS that is optimized for touch, and has a bunch of compelling apps that are also optimized for touch.

Not saying that will change things, but that's a pretty big difference in the equation that certainly could make it useful in some scenarios.

The real issue is ergonomics, not content. Google "Gorilla Arm".

Vertical touchscreens are pretty much the textbook example of an ergonomic failure.

Perhaps these ultrabooks have foldover hinges so they can turn into some sort of tablet mode?

Lots of "Wintel 8" announcements coming, but who other than MS itself is offering WinRT devices so far? The big question for me is if MS can succeed with mobile devices that do not have *backward compatability with a vast amount of existing software* as a USP (Windows Phone, WinRT).

I have to agree. When using a laptop, it's simply cumbersome to reach out and touch the screen. Ita easier to use a trackpad or mouse at desk level. Same for desktops actually. My friend got an all-in-one with a touchscreen. It hardly ever gets used.

I'm guessing that all-in-one isn't running an OS that is optimized for touch, and has a bunch of compelling apps that are also optimized for touch.

Not saying that will change things, but that's a pretty big difference in the equation that certainly could make it useful in some scenarios.

The real issue is ergonomics, not content. Google "Gorilla Arm".

Vertical touchscreens are pretty much the textbook example of an ergonomic failure.

Perhaps these ultrabooks have foldover hinges so they can turn into some sort of tablet mode?

The couple of HP Touchsmart all-in-one desktops I've seen had vertical hinges so that you can position it near ly flat. I don't think it went completely horizontal, but more like 20 degrees from flat, kind of like a drafting table. In that positioning, I can see a touch screen AIO work, but not so much when vertical except for certain kiosk applications.